The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1887-08-26
Cucumber Pickles.

| correspondence vi luo Ddl0luIOlS tOuH
from Warrenton, Va /:
GA new industry, which was started
several years ago, is rapidly growing in
Stafford and other counties near to
Fredericksburg. This is the raising
of cucumbers for the pickle factory at
fredericksburg. This season the sup
ply has reached thirty million cucum-
bers, those engaged in their production
furnishing from two hundred thousand
to million each. An acre will pro-
duce one hundred thousand. and they
sell in Fredericksburg at 80 cents per
thousand. The object is to get them
an inch or an inch and half long, and
this requires active picking before they
increase this size. A boy will pick three
thousand in day. Picking them thus
early increases vhe productiveness OF
the vine, and while the season lasts
others are appearing in place of those
taken from the vines. Next season
many other farmers will engage in this
new business"
Cucumber vines require rich soil
and plenty of moisture. Those who tol-
low the business successfully provide
facilities for irrigating the vines in
dry season, droughts being very liable
to occur at the season Of the year when
the vines reach their most productive
period, when an artificial application
of moisture keeps the vines in vigorous
condition. The above statement says
100000 cucumbers is the product OF
an acre which sells at the factory tor
$4,000. A boy will pick 5000 in day
The cost of the picking therefore may
be estimated at 80 to 50 cents per 1OOO,
and the cost of picking per acre may
be set down at $50 to $35. After the
irrigating bitches are opened the cost
of preparing the ground and cultivatlng
the crop would be about the same as
for any other truck patch crop. Every
farmer can readily estimate this part OF
the cost. Allowing liberal cost Tor
every thing the grower of the crop
ought to realize $50 to $40 an acre
clear profit. We presume the figures
given by the correspondent above quot
ed, are reliable data, derived from the
books of the growers and anufacturers,
1t would be difficult to find more
advantageous place to establish sim
liar industry than right here at Rising
Sun. There are large areas Of land ly.
ing adjacent to the village that could
be placed under irrigating bitches at
little cost. In fact the remains of old
irrigating bitches are numerous. much
of the land having been formerly irri-
gated meadows. A summer similar to
the present no artificial works would be
needed to supply moisture to the crop,
but to achieve complete success in rails
ing pickle crops, majority of our sea.
sons do require artificial supplies OF
water for vines and other plants.
The buildings and part of the ma
chinery provided for canning corn and
tomatoes could be pro6tably employed
several weeks or months probably,
which they now lie idle, as pickle fac
tories, greatly, we think. to the advan-
tage Of the proprietors, and to infinitely
greater advantage to increasing the pro-
ductive industry of the neighborhood.
The wind.mills which are being put
up on the farms-and the number is
rapidly multiplying could be profit.
ably used to irrigate one or two acres
of land, so that the production of vege.
tables used in making pickles, if con-
venient market were at hand would in
crease the supply of raw material suf-
fcient to establish very large bust
ness.
There need be no blind risks run in
establishing such business here. The
picking factories at Fredericksburg and
other places could be visited and the
necessary information obtained, and
competent man employed to start bust.
ness on moderate scale with the view
of expanding.
Farmers are pretty sick of raising
wheat for 60 to 70 cents per bushel and
oats for 20 to 25 cents, and hay baled
for So to SO ton. They would freely
undertake to try an acre or two in Gu.
cumbers, peppers and caulifower if
they were sure of a handy market for
the product. If they could make $25
to $40 an acre clear they would willing.
ly spend little extra care and labor
on few acres, and test the practicable
ity of new departure from the wheat
and oats routine. What has been ac.
complished in other neighborhoods can
be done in this where all the natural
advantages are at hand. The question
of help is often made use of as an OBJ
stacle to establish such business at
points remote from the city, but this is
is entirely without foundation. As soon
as word goes abroad that such establish
ments are starting up hands flock from
all directions and beg for employment.